Tag Archives: Feng Shui

I am often asked to consult with clients in their homes and businesses to help bring more abundance in their lives. While feng shui can assist with energy flow and stress reduction, it (unfortunately) can’t make us instant millionaires, solve all our problems or undo poor decision making. That said, there are ways to increase the positive energy in your home or business that can help boost your life improvement efforts.

Here some things you can do to help align your surroundings for greater abundance.

1. De-clutter

We all know the feeling of lightness and joy that de-cluttering can bring. In order to free up the energy in your space, get rid of anything that you don’t want, love, need, or use. Objects that no longer hold positive meaning or uses need to be discarded in order to allow energy to flow. Remember, clutter=stagnation.

2. Activate the Life Aspiration Areas in Your Home

Get a compass and an accurate floor plan to determine your Life Aspiration Areas and Meridian Points, then enhance them accordingly. If you don’t know how to figure this out chapter six in Feng Shui that Makes Sense can help you. While all the Life Aspiration Meridian Points are important, below are four that may most directly influence the flow of abundance in your life. The details below will help you focus on ones that may directly affect the flow of abundance in your life.

A. Activate the Career Meridian Point

In the north water is the activating element. Place a fountain and keep it running 24/7. This area is associated with your career, your life path and the direction your life is heading. Try to keep items made of rock or stone off this point as earth is the destructive element for the north.

B.Nurture Your Wealth Meridian

Place healthy plants in the southeast and remove any metal you have there. The southeast is associated with wealth, prosperity, and abundance. Water can help provide a boost to the southeast meridian, so feel free to add a fountain along with your plants (and yes, the plants have to be real and HEALTHY.) Remove any metal on or near this point as metal is the destructive element for wood.

C. Let Your Fame Shine

Fame isn’t just about being famous. It’s about making things bigger and better. Fire is the element for the south To safely bring in the fire element, place a lamp on your south meridian point and have it turned on for at least three hours every day. Water is the destructive element for fire, so be sure to remove any water you may have on or near this point if possible.

6. Conduct a Space Clearing

It’s very important to regularly clear your living and working spaces of old stagnant energy. A space clearing can help move things along in your life by getting rid of any negative or low vibrational energy in your space. You can find directions on how to do this by reading Feng Shui that Makes Sense or taking my FREE online space clearing class.

7. Create a Vision Board

Vision boards are great for helping you achieve your goals. Create a vision board of the items that remind you of having abundance in your life and hang it somewhere you can see it. Vision boards are amazingly effective tools!

9. Fix Things that are Broken.

When items aren’t working properly they create stress and frustration in our lives and remind us of things that aren’t going quite right. Be sure to repair or replace anything that needs to be improved and feel the difference in your life as things move more smoothly.

10. Invite Nature into Your Home

Flowers, plants, pretty stones, etc. all remind us of the abundance of nature that is all around us. Don’t forget to spend some time each day outdoors, and remember to count the blessings you have in your life now to allow more to come into your life later!

Again, remember that feng shui isn’t magic and can’t instantly solve all of life’s problems; financial and otherwise. What it can do however is help to energetically align your space so that you can more easily create what it is you’d like to manifest in your life. One thing I learned many, many years ago is that one of the best ways to manifest abundance in my life was to practice being grateful as much as possible for all the blessings I already have. Being grateful creates an energy of “having” rather than “lack” and helps pave the way for even more blessings in your life.

You are most likely well aware that Feng Shui principles apply to our interior environments in order to create a more optimal living space, but did you know those principles pertain to our exterior surroundings as well? To assist you in preparing for the warmer months ahead, I am including some wonderful tips on how you can employ the basic principles of Feng Shui to your outdoor living areas.

Let’s start with patio furniture:
If you are in the market for new patio furniture, you may want to consider the material it is made of in light of what part of the Pa Kua (or Life Aspiration Area) the furniture will be placed. Each Life Aspiration Area is designated based on the compass direction where it is located. Every one of these areas has a specific emphasis and a specific element that “charges” or increases the energy for that space. Here are a list of the areas, their directions and meanings, and what you may want to consider for these sections of your yard.

NorthThis direction relates to Career and the element is water. It is great to have some kind of water feature here (pools, spas, fountains, even a birdbath) to help stimulate the Career energy. Metal supports this direction, so metal patio furniture, wind chimes, etc. are ideal when placed here.

NortheastThis direction relates to Knowledge, Spirituality and the way we nurture ourselves. Earth is the main element for the Northeast, so river rock, stone, tile, bricks, etc. are great for this section. You may also want to include statuary made of cement or stone to enhance the Northeast. The patio furniture could be made from cement or stone; a Stone bench or stone (granite, tile, etc.) table top would be good for this section.

East
The East relates to Family. Wood is the main element for this section. Patio furnituremade of wood is ideal here. Metal furniture is the least desirable because metal cuts wood and is not a good energy for the East. You want to also make sure to have healthy growing plants in the east to increase the positive energy for the family.

SoutheastMost people are very interested in enhancing the Southeast section of their home and outdoor environment because the Southeast relates to Wealth. As with the East (Family) area, wood is the main element for the Southeast. Wood patio furniture is ideal, and so are healthy, growing plants. In Feng Shui it is considered especially positive to have fruit bearing trees in this sector so your financial efforts will “bear fruit”. As with the east, try to keep metal items to a minimum here.

SouthThe South relates to Fame and Reputation. Fire is the element that stimulates the South. BBQs, fireplaces and fire pits are great here. Lighting that goes on every night (either electrical or solar) are wonderful for the South. The color red can add energy too, so don’t be shy about planting red flowers in the south. Just remember that water puts out fire, so stay away from water features as much as possible in the South. Wood is compatible in this location, so wood patio furniture is a good choice.

SouthwestThe Southwest relates to Love and Partnership and like the Northeast, is enhanced by the energy of items made of earth. It is wonderful to add a “pair” of statues here to symbolize partnership. You may also choose to add large rocks or stones in this area too. River rock, stone, cement, etc. are all good here as is patio furniture made from cement or stone.

WestThe West relates to Children and our Creative efforts. The element for the West is metal. Metal wind chimes, furniture, and garden ornamentation made of metal are best suited here.

NorthwestThe Northwest relates to friendships, travel, and being in the right place at the right time (synchronicity). The element in the Northwest is the same as the West. Anything made of metal will help increase the energies here.

Well that is a quick look at how to increase the energy of your outdoor environments. One of the things I really love about Feng Shui is that is it a wonderful guideline for helping us make decor and placement decisions. I like to call it “Decorating with a Purpose”. Have fun while doing it, and most of all…enjoy the process!

This article is taken from my January 2018 Newsletter. To read the newsletter in its entirety, please click here.

Asian culture, as well as many others, look to the New Year as a very important time to make significant changes in their lives. The purpose of feng shui is to create the most optimal environment possible in order to provide a foundation for positive energy flow in your life. One thing that feng shui has taught me well is to embrace change. When done properly, feng shui helps propel you towards life experiences that are always bigger and better. Below I’ve outlined some very important steps to help you make this year your best yet.

1. Let go of what no longer serves you. It can be people, places, or things that have ceased to bring you joy. Sometimes relationships, places, and things that once held joy and meaning lose their luster and even become detrimental to our well-being.

In order to have healthy, loving relationships, you must heal or end toxic relationships with partners, friends, or family members. While this process can be painful, it is also one of the healthiest things you can do for your continued growth and well-being.

Your affinity with places can change too. Homes and environments where you may have once felt happy and comfortable may now make you feel stagnant, uneasy and frustrated. Any constant feeling of discomfort, whether it is with a specific person or place, signifies that a change is necessary in order to feel happier and more fulfilled.

Objects that you once loved may now be just taking up space and cluttering up your home and your life. If you don’t need it, want it, or love it, toss it!

2. Space clear your home. All the feng shui in the world won’t help if your space has

old, stuck residual energy. Over time, buildings absorb and radiate the energy of people or events that have taken place there. An indicator of stuck energy is feeling uneasy, drained, exhausted, unfocused or depressed when you’re in a particular space. It is very hard to move forward in your life when you are surrounded by stuck or negative energy in your home or workplace. Fortunately you can shift that energy by performing a space clearing.

This article is taken from my December 2017 Newsletter. Please click here to read the newsletter in its entirety.

It’s that time of year again. The time of year that many people look forward to and dread all at the same time. Many of us look back on childhood holidays with nostalgia and as adults we wonder where the “magic” has gone. When you really think about it, when you were a child, your parents handled all the stress for the holidays. All you had to do was show up, open presents, eat candy, and enjoy all the fun! It’s the adults who shoulder the burden of making the holidays special, but all too often the stress of the season robs us of the joy we once associated with this once magical time of year.

An important part of every holiday are the décor items we choose to display. Like little time capsules, each item brings up memories and sentiments of people, places, and holidays gone by. That nostalgia is part of what makes the holidays so special. While holiday decorations are an important part of creating the ambience of the season, if they aren’t displayed correctly they can contribute to the stress in our lives rather than being part of the fun.

Feng Shui is all about creating a space that looks and FEELS good. Here is a great way to display your holiday “treasures” in an attractive and organized way, adding more to the fun and less to the stress of your holiday home décor.

Over the years many of us have accumulated an oddball assortment of holiday décor items. Things we have kept from childhood, decorations we have been given and those we have purchased are too often thrown together amongst our every day décor items in colorful chaos. When we have too much visual stimulation and disorganization in a space, the environment begins to feel tense rather than restful. The secret to displaying holiday items attractively and calmly is to group “like” things together. Doing this is easier than you may think.
First, decide where you want to place your collection. Choose a different location for each display (in other words, don’t place more than one grouping on the same table, mantle, or other display surface). Next, remove your everyday décor items from the display area so that they aren’t competing with the holiday ones. Then choose the items for the grouping.

Items should be grouped either by theme (funky homemade childhood ornaments, angels, Santas, nativities, etc.) or by color (all red items, gold items, etc.). Place a solid colored cloth or table runner under the display to help visually hold the grouping together. Then place the items on the cloth. Not only will the items look more organized, you’ll find that they are also more interesting and attractive when displayed this way. Additionally, if you’re a person who has collections of everyday household décor items, this is a trick that can be used throughout the year with those items too.

To show you what I’m talking about, in addition to my regular Christmas tree ornaments, I also happen to have a lot of angel ornaments and a lot of dachshund ornaments (when you have dachshunds, believe me, you accumulate a lot of these over the years!) There isn’t enough room on the tree for all of them, so instead I display them by grouping them together.

I love all of these holiday décor items, but they would look ridiculous if they were placed in a hodgepodge on a table top. Instead, I group them together in separate areas to create their own little vignette. An attractive cloth underneath the collection (red for the dachshund ornaments and gold for the angels) ties the groupings together and makes them look more organized and attractive.

Grouping your ornaments and treasures make holiday decorating fun and festive without looking disorganized and chaotic. You’ll find that by applying the feng shui principle of organizing and grouping items to cut down on visual clutter to your holiday décor items, your holiday home décor will feel as good as it looks!

Some people have a natural sense of decorating. They seem to instinctively know what to put where, and how to arrange things, “just so” in order to make a room look and feel wonderful. Other people need more help (thank goodness, or I’d be out of a job!) Below you’ll find some basic furnishing tips for three key rooms to help you choose and place furniture for each room to help make the space function, feel, and look its best. Continue reading →

Warmer weather means spending more time entertaining outdoors. In twenty years of being a feng shui consultant, I’ve seen some great outdoor living spaces, and some not-so-great. Here are ten tips for making the most of your outdoor living areas.

1. Provide comfortable seating I know that this should be a no-brainer, yet I often find that people will choose hard, uncomfortable outdoor furniture and wonder why they don’t sit outside more often or for longer periods of time. Outdoor furniture should have arms and backs (this makes people feel more secure and relaxed while seated). If you have hard seats, purchase some cushions and pillows. You can get these relatively inexpensively at discount stores and be sure to stock up on these for next year at the end of the summer when things go on sale. Consider too, adding a hammock or swing to your outdoor seating for a comfortable, fun seating alternative.

2. Add a water feature The soothing sound of water is a wonderful addition to an outdoor living area, particularly as the weather heats up. It doesn’t need to be an elaborate pond or pool. An inexpensive outdoor fountain will do the trick. If you don’t have outdoor electricity, then run an all-weather extension cord from the house when you’re entertaining. You’ll be amazed at how much the water will add to the ambience of sitting outside. Just MAKE SURE not to place your water feature too close to the south meridian point of your home. The south is the Fame meridian and water is undesirable in this area. If you don’t know where the south meridian is, then pick up a copy of my book and it will show you how to figure this out.

This article is taken from my February 2017 Newsletter To read the newsletter in its entirety, please click here. Please note that all material on this page and in the newsletter is copyright protected.

YOUR PERSONAL KUA NUMBER AND BEST DIRECTIONS

Did you know that feng shui uses a formula that helps you to figure out which four compass directions are positive for you and which are negative? This ancient formula uses your birth date and your gender to determine something that is known in feng shui as your Kua Number. Each Kua Number has four compass directions that are considered positive and four that are negative. These are the best directions for your home to face (while you’re standing inside looking out), for the top of your head to point while you’re sleeping (as if you had an arrow sticking out of your head), and the direction you face while you’re working (if you sit for a long period of time).

Many of you know that I am very practical when it comes to feng shui and I have to say that I have found the influence of my own Kua Number and those of my clients to be quite accurate. That’s why I’m sharing this information with you now.

The first thing you’ll need to do is to figure out your kua number. There is a formula that you can use to figure out the number mathematically, or you can use the handy Kua Number calculator on my web site and figure it out quickly and easily. Click Here to go to that page. Input your birth information and don’t forget to click whether or not you are male or female as the calculator considers gender as an influence as well as birth date.

Once you input your personal information you will be told that you are either a West Group Person or an East Group Person. You will also be told your Kua Number. There are only two groups and you are one or the other. East Group People have the same positive directions (E, SE, S, N) and the same negative directions (W, NW, NE, SW). West Group people have the opposite directions from the East Group people. If you are West Group your best directions are (W, NW, NE, and SW) and your negative directions are (E, SE, N, S). In other words, the East Group’s best directions are the West Group’s bad directions and visa versa.

This article is taken from my December 2016 Newsletter. To read the newsletter, please click here.

Many years ago I had a client who had moved five times in two years. She made a joke saying, “Moving five times in two years was as good as a fire”, meaning that moving that often had given her many opportunities to get rid of lots of stuff. Many times when we think of letting go of items in our homes we think of cleaning out our closets, but real letting go involves reevaluating everything in our homes, not just the things we have tucked away.

When I moved from California to Hawaii, I moved out of a rather large home that I’d lived in for 17 years. Prior to moving into that home my mother had passed away, so not only did I have 17 years of my own stuff I had a lot of her things too. Moving over the ocean is a completely different experience than moving over land. I had to evaluate each item I owned; determining whether or not it was worth the expense of shipping it thousands of miles away. In the end, I managed to get rid of about 90 percent of what I owned; shipping only the items that were small enough and/or meaningful enough to warrant the hassle and expense of doing so. The process was emotional, exhausting, and ultimately freeing.

Feng Shui is about living and working in spaces that feel as good as they look. Part of having those spaces feel good has to do with the emotional connections we have with the things we choose to surround ourselves. Our homes are our sanctuaries, and we need to treat them as such. When the items in our homes lose their purpose and meaning, the energy in our homes and in turn in our lives can start to feel like dull, ordinary, and burdensome. Letting go of what no longer serves an emotional or practical purpose is very liberating, and that fresh new feeling can transfer over to other aspects of our life as well.

You don’t need to wait for a move to get started. Here are ten tips to get you going right now.

1. Go through each room in your home with a box and force yourself to get rid of five things in each room. If you don’t want it, need it, love it, or use it, get rid of it!

2. When you bring in something new, get rid of something old.

3. Take photos of items that you no longer wish to keep or store, but that may have sentimental meaning. For example, I got rid of a box of childhood toys that I’d kept for decades. Taking a photo of those items before letting them go helped me to give them up.

4. Remember that you are under no obligation to keep something that someone gives you. It’s your home and you need to be the one who decides what goes and what stays.

While most feng shui information pertains to adult living and working environments, children can also benefit by applying feng shui principles to their sleeping, studying, and playing areas. Below you’ll find great feng shui tips for making your child’s room a nurturing place of happiness and comfort.

1. Wall Color

Color choices are highly subjective, but one study shows that rooms that are painted bright yellow tend to increase tension. Babies cry louder, longer, and more often in bright lemon yellow rooms and adults tend to argue more often in rooms painted that color. Soft neutral wall colors are calming. Accent with brighter colors in bedding and artwork.

2. Bed Position

I’m always surprised at the odd ways adults position children’s beds in their rooms and then wonder why their child has trouble sleeping. Just as in an adult bedroom, a child’s bed needs to be positioned so that they can see the door but not be in direct line with the door while lying down. Children under the age of ten often feel more comfortable when one side of the bed is pushed up against a wall rather than open on both sides.

3. Children’s Beds

Adults and children alike often sleep better in a bed that has a solid headboard with no holes or slats in the headboard. A headboard creates a feeling of comfort and security does not exist when the bed is pushed up against the wall without a headboard. Avoid beds made entirely out of plastic (like a plastic bed that looks like a car for example). Plastic off-gasses toxins which can be unhealthy for children.

4. Avoid Artificial Scent in the Home

There is a growing body of evidence that artificial air fresheners (think plug-ins, sprays, candles, potpourri, and reed scented sticks) have unhealthy side effects, especially in children. They have been linked to asthma, headaches, and immune deficiencies. If you like scent in your home, opt for diffusing therapeutic-grade essential oils like the ones I suggest in my newsletters. These products are anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial and actually increase health and well-being when diffused in a room.

5. Provide Easy-to-Access Closed Storage Options

Very few children enjoy cleaning up after themselves. To make tidying easier for them (and you), provide plenty of storage choices. Kid’s toys are brightly colored and even when placed neatly can make a room look messy. Cabinets, shelves with a solid fabric draped over them, wicker baskets with lids and ottomans are great storage ideas for toys and books. A storage area under the stairs can easily be converted into a fun, cozy play area and a place for toys and games.

This article is taken from my May 2016 newsletter. To read the entire newsletter, click here. Please note that all information in this article and in my newsletters is copyright protected and may not be copied without written permission. Thank you!

Have you ever heard anyone say, “Darn, I wish I HADN’T listened to my intuition?” Probably not. In fact, it’s much more likely that at one time or another you, or someone you know has said, “Gee, I really wish I HAD listened to my intuition.” Intuition is defined as The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. Intuition is the inner voice that speaks from the heart, often in a whisper, gently guiding us to what is best for our highest good. It’s up to us to hear it, trust it, and listen to it. Listening to your intuition can be one of your best assets when identifying good feng shui. Studies prove that people make up their minds within 10 seconds whether or not they are going to purchase a home. They may set out with a laundry list of things that they are looking for, but ultimately they will make their decision about a place based on their intuition and emotional response to it. That initial intuitive/emotional response is almost always correct. It’s when we get in our heads and try to rationalize reasons to NOT listen to our intuition that we get ourselves into trouble.

I’ve worked with many clients who’ve regretted purchasing their home saying that they intuitively didn’t feel right about it in the beginning. Ignoring their intuition, they went ahead with the purchase because it was a great deal, someone talked them into it, or they thought they’d learn to like it better over time. The truth of the matter is whatever you don’t like about a home in the beginning will only amplify the longer you live there, especially if it is something that is impossible to change (like living next to a freeway). It’s like walking around with a rock in your shoe and being unable to take it out.